Foundational Beliefs for Stewardship of the EarthThe 4 Pillars of Our Early Childhood Sustainability CurriculumOur sustainability approach in early childhood education is rooted in love, led by research, and built on action. These four pillars guide everything we do—from daily interactions to long-term advocacy.
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1. If you love it, you will fight for it
We begin with relationships—between children and nature, and between humans and the Earth.
In early childhood, love and care are the foundation for action. When children form meaningful connections with the natural world, they develop a sense of responsibility and a desire to protect it. We create environments and experiences that nurture curiosity, empathy, and awe for nature.
In early childhood, love and care are the foundation for action. When children form meaningful connections with the natural world, they develop a sense of responsibility and a desire to protect it. We create environments and experiences that nurture curiosity, empathy, and awe for nature.
Key Components:
- Nature-Based Learning: Children engage with the outdoors daily, exploring living systems, weather, seasons, and their local ecosystems through play, observation, and inquiry.
- Nature Museum: Rotating displays of natural items—feathers, rocks, nests, leaves—act as provocations for storytelling, art, and science.
- Nature Prompts: Simple, open-ended questions and materials placed outdoors invite children to explore, reflect, and discover.
- Relationship-Focused Practice: Teachers model and nurture relationships not just between people, but with animals, plants, and places—helping children build emotional bonds with the natural world.
2. Teach children to care for the Earth
Children are capable of taking action. Sustainability is not an add-on; it is a way of being.
We embed sustainability into the rhythms and rituals of our classrooms. Through real, tangible practices, children learn how their actions matter—building habits that contribute to a more just and healthy planet.
We embed sustainability into the rhythms and rituals of our classrooms. Through real, tangible practices, children learn how their actions matter—building habits that contribute to a more just and healthy planet.
Key Components:
- Sustainability Practices: Children participate in composting, sorting recyclables, tending to gardens, and reducing waste. These are not special projects—they are part of the daily routine.
- Environmental Education in Action: Concepts like the water cycle, plant growth, pollination, and interdependence are explored through hands-on learning, books, and sensory experiences. Teachers use age-appropriate language and intentional questioning to help children understand their place in these systems.
3. Leverage research on best practices and current sustainability trends to guide our actions
We are reflective practitioners who ground our work in evidence, equity, and relevance.
Sustainability in early childhood must be thoughtful and intentional. We align our actions with current research, developmentally appropriate practice, and culturally responsive pedagogy. This ensures our efforts are meaningful, inclusive, and adaptable to the communities we serve.
Sustainability in early childhood must be thoughtful and intentional. We align our actions with current research, developmentally appropriate practice, and culturally responsive pedagogy. This ensures our efforts are meaningful, inclusive, and adaptable to the communities we serve.
Key Components:
- Developmentally Appropriate Practice: Activities and expectations match children’s cognitive, emotional, and physical capacities, ensuring sustainability education is playful, meaningful, and integrated into their world.
- Research-Informed Approaches: We stay connected to the latest in environmental education, child development, and systems thinking—allowing us to innovate and evolve.
- Culturally Inclusive + Socially Just Frameworks: We recognize that environmental issues intersect with social justice. We include diverse voices, value Indigenous knowledge, and affirm each child’s cultural relationship to the land.
4. Reflect, refine, demonstrate, share, and advocate to foster growth and drive societal change
We lead by example. Stewardship is a cycle of learning, doing, sharing, and inspiring others.
Educators, children, and families are all part of a learning ecosystem. We prioritize reflection and growth—not only for ourselves, but to contribute to a larger movement toward sustainability and justice in early education. We advocate for systems change and lead by demonstrating what is possible.
Educators, children, and families are all part of a learning ecosystem. We prioritize reflection and growth—not only for ourselves, but to contribute to a larger movement toward sustainability and justice in early education. We advocate for systems change and lead by demonstrating what is possible.
Key Components:
- Professional Development: Teachers engage in ongoing learning related to sustainability, anti-bias education, and outdoor learning. Opportunities include coaching, workshops, peer dialogue, and action research.
- Publications: We document and share our process through newsletters, blog posts, articles, and presentations—amplifying what we learn and inspiring others.
- Leadership-Driven Approach: We operate with the belief that every educator is a leader. Our decisions, advocacy efforts, and community partnerships reflect a commitment to sustainability and child-centered transformation.
